Air Pass Possibilities in Pacific, Asia

Several airlines operating in the Pacific/Asia area offer air passes within their own countries and for nearby areas. However, check their limitations.

For example, you may not be able to visit a city or destination more than once. Or you may not be able to backtrack to a destination, except for connecting flights.

Indian Airlines has a pair of passes that have to be bought in the United States. The Discover India Fare is good for 21 days, costs $375 and allows flights on the airline throughout India. If you want to fly within one section of India, the carrier has four regional Wonderfare passes. Each pass, which covers eastern, western, southern or northern regions, costs $200 and is good for seven days.

Garuda Indonesia has a Visit Indonesia Air Pass with several possibilities. You can visit five cities in a 20-night span for $300, 10 cities within 40 nights for $400 and 35 cities in 60 nights for $500. The pass has to be bought in the United States.

Air Tahiti, a domestic carrier in French Polynesia, has four passes. One pass, about $260, provides flights from Tahiti to Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora. Another pass includes those islands plus Rangiroa and Manihi, for about $450.

A third pass, about $400, provides flights to the same islands but provides direct flights from Bora Bora to Rangiroa. The fourth pass, $450, includes Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora and the Austral Islands of Rurutu and Tubuai.

All passes are good for 28 days and may be bought in the United States or Tahiti.

Polynesian Airlines has a PolyPass, which provides 30 days of unlimited travel on its South Pacific system to American and Western Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji for $799. Also, the pass offers one round-trip flight to Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, from anywhere in the carrier’s system. The pass can’t be used during December and January, however.

Air Pacific has a Pacific Air Pass for $374 that flies you from Fiji to Tonga, Western Samoa and Vanuatu within a 30-day period. For another $100 you can include the Solomon Islands. The pass must be bought in the United States.

Contact the Government of India Tourist Office, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 204, Los Angeles 90010, (213) 380-8855, about Indian Airlines.

Contact Air Pacific at (213) 417-2236, Garuda Indonesia at (800) 332-2223 and Polynesian Airlines at (800) 626-7388.

More information on Air Tahiti also is available from the Tahiti Tourist Promotion Board, 12233 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 110, Los Angeles 90064, or call (213) 207-1919.